--RHP Kelvim Escobar is likely to open the season on the disabled list due to a right shoulder ailment. He has been working to build up the joint at the Angels' facility in Tempe, Ariz.

--INF Dallas McPherson signed a one-year contract with the Florida Marlins. McPherson missed the entire 2007 season while recovering from back surgery and was not offered a contract for 2008 by the Angels. He will compete for the third base job vacated when the Marlins traded Miguel Cabrera to Detroit.

--RHP Jered Weaver reported to spring training a year ago with a sore shoulder -- the result of a heavy workload in his rookie year and a poor offseason conditioning program. This winter, Weaver's plan included spending time working out with Angels ace John Lackey in Southern California. Weaver opened the season on the DL in 2007.

--Angels GM Tony Reagins said he did not talk to representatives of the Minnesota Twins in the days before they traded LHP Johan Santana to the Mets -- an indication that the Angels were not one of the teams given a chance by the Twins to make their best final offer. Santana's demands for a contract extension in the neighborhood of $150 million apparently cooled the Angels' interest in pursuing a trade for him.

--Aguilas Cibaenas beat Tigres del Licey, five games to three, in the championship series of the Dominican winter league. Angels RHP Ervin Santana finished the postseason with a 3-1 record and 2.13 ERA for Licey. Both teams qualified for the Caribbean Series beginning Saturday.

--INF Erick Aybar is RHP Ervin Santana's teammate on Licey but did not fare as well in winter ball. Aybar made 19 errors in 35 regular-season games, then batted just .209 in the extended postseason. He did tie for the playoff lead with six stolen bases (in six attempts).

BY THE NUMBERS
.284 -- Angels' team batting average in 2007 (the highest in franchise history).

QUOTE TO NOTE
"He probably wouldn't have upgraded our starting pitching to the point of seeing all that talent go -- and the talent we might not be able to re-sign next year." -- Angels manager Mike Scioscia on pursuing a trade for LHP Johan Santana.

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